Tag: #CFP

Week 7 did NOT disappoint the general CFB fan. Of course, fans of teams like Utah, Ole Miss and Ohio State were bummed out immediately while Bama & Tennessee fans are concerned the Department of Justice may begin a fraud investigation if their recent performance continues.

Will note Oregon and Coach Dan “12th Man” Lanning did cause the NCAA to act faster than a tube of Narcan after they bragged about gaming the rules vs. OSU.

Now on to Week 8……………more great matchups and some games that likely are CFP elimination plays on the menu. Bama @ Tennessee comes to mind.

Prognostication Accountability update: Padre 38-21 ZT 33-22. Padre asked ZT “Are you tired of looking at my tail lights? “ ZT did pick up a game last week so decided to allow him a quick glimpse of what the view is like to be #1 for this week only, then back to being back to being a Ricky Bobby “If you ain’t first your last” poster child….

ZT was in Tuscaloosa for a meeting and attended the unveiling of the 2024 Men’s Basketball Final 4 banner which included a 3-point & dunk contest before a season first scrimmage (felt compelled noting Bama is apparently transitioning to be a Basketball School). On the way back, ZT stopped at Headley Food Mart #7 in Maplesville AL ( for fans of this blog, 1st we are sorry & 2nd this is not ZTs first stop at this establishment) in search of a nutritious breakfast and a cup of Joe. Much to his delight, this combo truck stop offers a cornucopia of options.

First encounter was what appeared to be a trio of soups….sign for Chicken and Dumpling (no “s”) at 845am was appealing but apparently someone beat ZT to them..

Just around the corner, the hot dog roller machine had apparently been re-tasked to handle what the sign said was “Southwest Chicken” .. ZT has not been to the Southwest lately so not sure how they currently grow them, but decided to pass.. did note the ONLY condiment within arm’s length of this was a basket containing individual servings of Smuckers’ Peanut Butter. ZT could only assume Elvis frequented this place…..or still does for the conspiracy theorists…

ZT spotted a Hunt’s Brother Pizza Station and was about to grab a slice of combo when he spotted a “Biscuit Smorgasbord” and knew this was the ticket!!

Best part? The biscuits are “hand-made and hand-handled”…..

After much consideration, ZT had to go with the Fried Bologna and Egg Biscuit…Take that Hardees, McDonalds and the rest of you chain places!!

Update 2 hours later………ZT was forced to make an immediate detour south of Montgomery AL as apparently it was some special bologna that ZT has never consumed………

The stop gave ZT time for an early focus on Week 8 selections and now convinced “Fried Bologna biscuits are brain food” so should be a good week!

ZT been in Vegas and Colorado for work. Did run into a guy in the COS airport wearing an Illinois shirt. Asked him about the big game this weekend and he said “ I am more familiar with the Engineering Department than the sports stuff.” May be adjusting my initial prognostication based on this encounter….although I had to recall Bama got beat by a bunch of nerds so maybe not……. Here we go….

#6 Miami Hurricanes vs Louisville Cardinals 11am

Hurricanes looked unstoppable (CAT 4) but have been tested in the last 2 vs. Va Tech & @ Cal (Downgraded to CAT 2) They look like a team that needed a week off. Still like QB Cam Ward with over 2,200 YDS and 20-5 TD vs INT stats. Team rushing still doesn’t have a RB with an average over 50 YPG. Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals found a way to win late vs UVA after dropping close games vs. SMU and the Fighting Irish. QB Tyler “The Big” Shough is a good gamer and need scat back Isaac Brown ( 8.6 per carry ) to “show” out this weekend ( wow ZT..trying to show how good you were at Hooked on Phonics by using “show” 2 times in a sentence? ) and maybe a TD reception as well. ZT leaning to Cardinals to do more than just “cover”…UPSET SPECIAL Cardinals. 38. Tropical Disturbances 35

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs #16 Indiana Hoosiers 11am

Well……ZT remembers the line in The Outlaw Josey Wales when Grandma Sarah notes she doesn’t like things from Missouri as she is from Kansas and the guy at the general store says he is a Hoosier.. She responds “Personally, I don’t think much of Hoosiers neither”…..That’s pretty much how all of CFB has historically thought about Indiana but welcome to the craziness of 2024 ( ZT, you going to quote “Gone with the Wind” next? ) Indiana ranked and, oh by the way, is undefeated!!! Solid work by HC Curt Cignetti. Next up? A resurgent Big Red Thrashing Machine with only 1 OT loss. Love me some Hoosier Senior QB Kurtis “I’m not a dork” Rourke standing in at 6’5” and his 14-2 TD-INT ratio. Both teams coming off Bye weeks but like the Hoosiers to win in Bloomington. Hoosiers 27 Children of the Corn. 24

#12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Georgia Tech Yellowjackets 230pm

Late added game to prognosticate at the Padre’s request ( something about a vision…). ZT was in Vegas for work and talking to the “smart money” about games. One of the best was waitress at Din Tai Fung who noted she doesn’t work Saturdays as she makes too much in the sports book. The added “omen” on this one was the only “non-profitable” session of the week involved ZT accidentally playing a slot machine with baby devils on it ON SUNDAY….that’s my sign for this one!! Fighting Irish with the Pope’s Blessing 31 GA Nerds 21

#24 Michigan Wolverines vs #22 Illinois Illini (Engineering School) 230pm

The defending national champions are not going to repeat. They simply can’t get a QB in rhythm and are now on #3. If they are in a situation to be forced to throw, they are in trouble. Just for perspective, Illini haven’t beaten at ranked team at home since 1991. Their record vs. Michigan? 23-72-2 and 2-8 in last 10 meetings. Michigan did get a bye week after losing at Washington while Illini had to fight for their life vs. Purdue coming off a bye week where it was the first time the defense was hit hard. ZT will take Illini with coach Bret Bielema at home in a mild upset. Upset Special. Illini (with Nerds ) 24 Crying with Wolves 21

#7 Bama vs #11 Tennessee Volunteers 230pm

Well…after Week 5, this was to be “THE GAME” for October. Then came weeks 6 & 7. Both teams loose in week 6 and ride their respective struggle buses in week 7. Now for the infamous 3rd Saturday in October. Don’t think this one means less as the loser likely is out of the CFP ( although the Snoop Dogg Bowl in Tucson could be a nice consolation if you get to hang with Snoop..) Bama just looks out of rhythm on offense and the defense has been exposed by Vandy & South Carolina. Very concerning with an offense like the Vols “can” produce ( 191 points in their 1st 3 games ) but hasn’t scored more than 25 in a game since ( although vs. better competition ). Playing in Knoxville is worth points as home field advantage. Nearly a coin toss but… Bama 35 Vols 34 ( but take UT and the points if you like to wager! )

#8 LSU Tigahs vs Arkansas Razorbacks 6pm

Tigahs took care of business in Baton Rouge on Saturday Night ( thanks ZT, thats like saying snow is generally white ) over a solid Ole Miss team. Sam “I’m gonna have me a Ol’Col’ Beer“ Pittman and them hawgs had a needed off week after the upset over UT at just the right time to get some folks healed up for this one. ZT likes the Hogs chances with most of the remaining games at home other than a mercy mission to Starkville at some point. Tigahs O-line is giving “Rusty” Nussmeier time to throw and hogs are not much at penetration. Hogs need QB Taylen Green to play all game and keep the hogs moving and they usually win the time of possession battle. Can fluster an opposing offense. This one will be close but……. Tigahs 31 Pork Chops. 24

#5 Georgia Bulldogs vs #1 Texas Longhorns 630pm

ZT is ready to watch this one. Sark and the Longhorns are looking to be a notch above the rest of the world at this point. OU missing too many key players last week to gauge the quality of QB Ewers return but think about Texas having a real QB option if needed vs “I feel the back up is ready”….nice Insurance policy…No Mayhem..better than Allstate!! Bulldogs…1-1 on the road with a 1 point win over KY and the loss to Bama. 4 wins in the state of GA. This one is in Austin. Texas had a close game vs….ok, nobody this year. Georgia will be the best Offense the Longhorns have faced and other than a bad half vs. Bama, and a coasting 2nd vs. MSU, Dawg defense is really good. Did I mention this game is in Austin? (Yes you did ZT…) ZT just has a weird feeling ( could have been a bad potato in Vegas ) that goes counter to all conventional wisdom……. Pepto Bismol Upset Special Dawgs 35 Horns Down 28

ZT is out but still reminding the Padre “ It’s where you finish…..”

Padre is working into Saturday AM for last minute wisdom on Week 8 prognostications……will update as soon as he “comes down from the mountain”

Padre is now IN THE HOUSE and ready to bestow pigskin wisdom across the land!!!

For some reason, I think we will see a lot of fun games today. Evidently, because I fell asleep, and they start games at 2am on east coast, I missed a good game with BYU and Okie St last night. Sad I missed that game, but I did watch FSU fall to 1-6. Nothing helps Gator misery like knowing our arch-rival is miserable too. So here is hoping I am correct and we have a great day of football.  

Miami vs. Louisville: Who is the real Miami? The domination of early games? Or the close wins (and a little help from refs?) of the last two games? Well, “just win baby” is indeed all that matters in the end. Horse Country and Louisville Slugger baseball bats cannot tame the rhythms of The Miami Sound Machine.  🎶 “Turn the bus around, head back home with a W” 🎶  The ‘Canes win the Schnellenberger Bowl 36-27.

Nebraska vs. Indiana: I am picking an Indiana game. I could make a Nebraska joke about not picking a game of theirs since like 1995, but what do I say about Indiana?! Not since 1915?!?! Indiana’s HC is a very confident guy, and he backs it up. On the flip side, the Huskers are building something in Lincoln. Can we call this game “The Corn Bowl”? Can the winner get a bowl of popcorn and corn flakes? I think this game could go either way. But like how some kernels never do their job and pop, I say Indiana makes a late mistake. Nebraska with the mild upset by a score of 27-26.

Alabama vs. Tennessee: Bama looks vulnerable. Tennessee looks vulnerable. Evidently, Bama’s coach likes t-shirts and Bama fans have a problem with it. Evidently, Tennessee’s coach likes to run up the middle — a lot — and Tennessee fans have a problem with it. But there is one thing that can cure those kinds of frustrations…..beating your rival! Two years ago Tennessee upset Bama and all of us college football fans had to watch the celebrations on loop. At first it was cool watching it unfold. Then I realized something — I am a Gator….and all of that happy bright orange on my tv and newsfeed made me feel like I was witnessing a pumpkin themed Cotton-Eyed Joe rave down by the river. Then last week happened. My Gators dominated and still lost. 😡 So, my pick is less logical and more personal. Roll Tide! Bama will be smoking the cigars after squeaking out a win on Rocky Top. Alabama wins 30-27.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech: I was going to pick Georgia Tech with the big upset 24-23. I had it down and was about to pull the trigger — then I saw their QB is out. The luck (can you say luck with an injury?) of the Irish is the difference. Without their leader, I don’t think Tech stands much of a chance. So unless Notre Dame eats a bunch of Varsity hot dogs before the game, I think the Irish “runs” away with the victory (see what I did there? 😏 — if you don’t, go eat at the Varsity for the first time and you might understand). The Dirty South is doused in Holy Water. Notre Dame 30-13.

Illinois vs. Michigan: Good ‘ole Bret was allergic to “W’s” in the south. Thankfully, they have a cure for that syndrome. It called coaching in the Big Ten Conference. 😇 Michigan has more talent. I think Illinois has the better coach. The Fightin’ Bielema’s win 23-17.

LSU vs. Arkansas: Prince once partied like it was 1999. Well, I say the Hogs will be partying like it’s two weeks ago! Arkansas gets the mild upset by a score of 26-24. Then, in a moment of pure rage, Brian Kelly unlocks Mike the Tiger’s cage and sics him on Tusk. But Mike is tamed when Sam Pittman tackles him and begins rubbing his belly. By the end of the night, Sam and Mike are spotted eating catfish and drinking cold beers in the Ozarks. Brian Kelly is spotted screaming into a pillow on the ride home.

Kentucky vs. Florida: Last week, my Gators DOMINATED the Vols for much of the game. Florida should have won by 17+ points. And while I shouldn’t have been that upset (because we all know where this is going in Gainesville), the play calling in the game had me more angry than Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg at a AALM meeting (AALM stands for “Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana”). Oh, and my verbal commentary on last week’s game during and postgame? Let’s just say I was preaching on the power of words in my sermon on Sunday, and God was probably clearing his throat the entire sermon. I simply snapped on the jet sweep call on 4th and Inches. And while it is not an excuse to lose it, I think even God was saying, “That call doesn’t make sense.” On to the next game. Mertz is out — Lagway is in — I say Gators break the three game losing streak to UK and win. The Orange and Blue by a score of 20-17.

Georgia vs. Texas: The game of the week. I really think this could end up being a classic, and possibly the first of two clashes (maybe in Atl or eve the CFP Little cute/ugly Uga didn’t make the trip because of “travel logistics”. Hmmmmm. Yeah. Or maybe Bevo’s wrath is too much for the pup?

All picking aside, Georgia will come to play. I expect a battle, and I think this game could go either way. On a neutral field, I think I would pick the Kirby and the Dawgs. But this isn’t a neutral field. Austin is the slight difference. Texas holds on in an intense and hard hitting game. The Horns hook ‘em by a score of 30-27.

Now back to my Orange and Blue blues — where I watch YouTube videos of old big Gator games. As my dear Bammer friend jokingly said last year, “Here are some SEC Championship tickets for your son and you. I want him to be able to see a big game since Florida never plays in one anymore.”  🤣  Well, he said something like that. Lol. And we had an amazing time in Atlanta thanks to an amazing friend. Gator till I die — and that may be sooner than later.